Energy
Fracking could decide the election in Pennsylvania — and nationwide
Originally published at the New York Post Pennsylvania may be the deciding state in the 2024 election. And new polling from my organization makes clear energy may be the deciding…
Read More: Fracking could decide the election in Pennsylvania — and nationwideEvery family, business owner, and taxpayer in Pennsylvania should be able to increase their financial security without undue interference from our state government. Free-market policies that limit taxes, allow entrepreneurs to innovate and create jobs, and offer stability to families will put our state on track to become a national leader. Policies that enact spending limits, cut taxes, and reduce regulations will help Pennsylvania avoid debt and restore sound fiscal planning that will benefit citizens in the years to come.
Related Issues
State Budget
What Congress is up to
While the Pennsylvania General Assembly is on vacation, Congress is not – and they are up to no good. 1) The House passed the housing bailout bill, which backs…
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Read More: What Congress is up toTaxes & Economy
New analysis of where I-80 tolls will go
While I have previously posted that I-80 tolls will mostly go to other projects, rather than stay on I-80, the Turnpike Commissions new application for tolling I-80 changes that…
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Read More: New analysis of where I-80 tolls will goEducation
Construction Woes
A few schools in Pennsylvania are experiencing a money crunch–not because property taxes are too low, but because of school boards’ Edifice Complex. The Bethlehem School District and Danville…
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Read More: Construction WoesTaxes & Economy
Morality and libertarianism in The Dark Knight
Review of The Dark Knight on, of all places, the Mises Economics Blog (spoilers). Jeffrey Tucker notes that the movie is awesome (agreed), praises how the movie addresses the…
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Read More: Morality and libertarianism in The Dark KnightTaxes & Economy
Turnpike Commission Resubmits I-80 Application
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has resubmitted their proposal to toll I-80 – full application, letter from the Governor, and Appendices A through L are available for download here. Readers…
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Read More: Turnpike Commission Resubmits I-80 ApplicationRegulation
PA Lottery lags overall economic growth
There have been seemingly conflicting media reports on the Pennsylvania’s Lottery growth. Tom Barnes in the Post Gazette repeats, without analysis, the state revenue department’s self-congratulatory release by writing…
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Read More: PA Lottery lags overall economic growthState Budget
Congress’s Edifice Complex
John Fund borrows the epithet Edifice Complex to describe Congressman’s (along with Governor’s) penchant for using taxpayer funds to construct projects named for themselves – e.g. Paul…
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Read More: Congress’s Edifice ComplexTaxes & Economy
Government is the problem (by Edward Inghrim)
On the air today on WHP 580 AM, Matt read a commentary by Edward Inghrim, a school board member from the Saucon Valley School District. It first appeared in the…
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Read More: Government is the problem (by Edward Inghrim)Taxes & Economy
Lower energy costs by raising energy taxes?
The state’s move to lease 74,000 acres in Tioga and Lycoming counties for natural gas drilling has inspired some to call for new energy taxes. One suggestion…
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Read More: Lower energy costs by raising energy taxes?Taxes & Economy
High Today: 96, Al Gore to blame
Americans for Prosperity video highlights Nobel Prize/Oscar winner Al Gore showing up with a motorcade, leaving one car running, before giving a speech demanding audience ride bikes home,…
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Read More: High Today: 96, Al Gore to blameTaxes & Economy
What to do with Fannie and Freddie
While President Bush and Congress are debating a bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (properly the Federal National Mortgage Association and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, which…
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Read More: What to do with Fannie and FreddieEducation
PHEAA Must Phace the Phacts.
The Board of Directors of PHEAA (Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Association) too umbrage with our highlighting that government agency’s misuse and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Our response is…
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Read More: PHEAA Must Phace the Phacts.Regulation
Lottery Dollars ARE Tax Dollars!
PA Secretary of Revenue Tom Wolf recently wrote to the Commonwealth Foundation about a mailing we sent out to members of the General Assembly highlighting the inappropriate use…
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Read More: Lottery Dollars ARE Tax Dollars!Regulation
Steelers and the Death Tax (and stadium subsidies)
Wall Street Journal article on how the estate tax may force the Rooney’s to sell the Steelers (not to mention other family owned sports teams, newspapers, and even…
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Read More: Steelers and the Death Tax (and stadium subsidies)Regulation
How much do you work for Government?
Americans for Tax Reform has released their 2008 Cost of Government Report today, which happens to be Cost of Government day for the US. Their report is broader than…
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Read More: How much do you work for Government?Taxes & Economy
Pennsylvania shouldn’t turn I-80 into state’s cash cow
Vindy.com has an editorial against I-80 tolling, noting The state pledges to spend nearly $200 million more on maintenance than it is spending now, But revenue from…
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Read More: Pennsylvania shouldn’t turn I-80 into state’s cash cowTaxes & Economy
Most I-80 toll revenue to be diverted from I-80
Though the Turnpike Commission unveiled their plan for capital improvements on I-80 (if they get approval to toll it), it remains the case that most of the revenue…
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Read More: Most I-80 toll revenue to be diverted from I-80Taxes & Economy
Bush: Drill Now
President Bush will repeal the executive order banning offshore drilling. Of course, the executive order was superseded by a law banning offshore drilling, which Congress will have to…
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Read More: Bush: Drill NowRegulation
Lease It, If You Must Toll It
Turnpike Commission’s plans for I-80 will cost Pennsylvanians billions HARRISBURG, PA — As the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission rolled out its plans for Interstate 80, the Commonwealth Foundation called on Gov.
Press Release
Read More: Lease It, If You Must Toll ItRegulation
Are tax-exempt bonds for stadiums legal?
The Tax Foundation points to to proposed changes in law by the IRS and Democrats in Congress that would prevent tax exempt bonds from being used for private sports…
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Read More: Are tax-exempt bonds for stadiums legal?Regulation
The Emperor Has No Clothes: The Truth about Secondhand Smoke
Short paper from the Heartland Institute (click here for PDF) on the science of second hand smoke – including the oft-repeated claim about the number of deaths due to…
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Read More: The Emperor Has No Clothes: The Truth about Secondhand Smoke